Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast.
Now thousands of people are using it against viruses and bacteria that cause illness.
Colds and many other illnesses start when viruses get in your nose and multiply. If you don’t stop them early, they spread and cause misery.
Hundreds of studies confirm copper kills viruses and bacteria almost instantly just by touch.
That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do.
“The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.” National Institutes of Health.
Scientists say copper’s high conductance disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys it in seconds.
The EPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.
The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made a smooth copper probe
with a tip to fit in the bottom of the nostril, where viruses collect.
When he felt a tickle in his nose like a cold about to start, he rubbed the copper gently in his nose for 60 seconds.
“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold never happened. I used to get 2-3 bad colds every year. Now I use my device whenever I feel a sign I am about to get sick.”
He hasn’t had a cold in 10 years.
Users say:
“It works! I love it!”
“I can’t believe how good my nose feels.”
“Is it supposed to work that fast?”
“One of the best presents ever.”
“Sixteen flights, not a sniffle!”
“Cold sores gone!”
“It saved me last holidays. The kids all got sick, but not me.”
“I am shocked! My sinus cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”
“Best sleep I’ve had in years!”
After his first success with it, he asked relatives and friends to try it. They all said it worked, so he patented CopperZap® and put it on the market.
Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.
Longtime users say they haven’t been sick in years. They have less stress, less medical costs, and more time to enjoy life.
Soon people found other things they could use it against.
Virus variants
Sinus trouble
Cold sores
Fever blisters
Canker sores
Strep throat
Night stuffiness
Morning congestion
Nasal drip
Infected sores
Infected wounds Styes Warts Ringworm
Other microbial threats
The handle is curved and textured to increase contact. Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched.
The EPA says copper works just as well when tarnished.
Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the science teams. He placed millions of viruses on a copper surface. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it.”
CopperZap® is made in the USA of pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA33
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Statements are not intended as product health claims and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Our Special Edition for December includes a variety of uplifting articles. Linda Sechrist’s Transforming Our World brings thought leader Laureen Golden into the conversation. Golden discusses sociocracy and how equality among members is key to working together for the greater good of ALL. Based on recent research, the education we received years ago did not adequately prepare us for a “new kind of thinking” that appears “required” to meet the challenges of today forward.
Read about what a group working at the local level in St. Petersburg, Florida, has created in response to our new realities. Several Florida cities have provided grants to support inclusive conversation as a catalyst for solutions to come forth. For more, read this main article starting on page 16.
What’s that sound? It’s Good Vibrations, The Healing Power of Sound. From the vibrations of gongs to tuning forks, each sound has an effect on the body’s central and parasympathetic nervous systems. Read about the studies that suggest how these vibrations can remedy some disorders and be prescribed to manage certain conditions. The article discusses the healing properties of Singing Bowls, Solfeggio Frequencies, Binaural Beats, and more. Healing Ways starts on page 14.
What does spontaneous mean, and how does that relate to miraculous recoveries? Read what Jeffrey Rediger, board-certified psychiatrist and medical director, has learned from studying spontaneous healing using medical tools like CT scans. Rediger discusses his findings which include common elements among those who have experienced a miraculous recovery, like healing the stress response and transforming identity and beliefs. For helpful insights into his research, read this Wise Words article beginning on page 12.
This month’s Conscious Eating Department offers up some great tips for creating a healthier version of many traditional recipes during the holidays by giving ingredient-by-ingredient examples, like replacing jam with fresh fruit for your
favorite parfaits. For more tips on serving great holiday foods and some colorful, healthy recipes, indulge in some Merry Brunching on page 20.
Teaching Children the Spirit of Giving reflects the values of generosity and kindness. Read about what studies have shown regarding acts of altruism—like boosting the immune system, and more. Youngsters mirror what they see in adults. Adults who exemplify the joy of giving see that same love-joy reflected in their children. Learn about the research on mirror neurons and how they affect language, speech, emotional intelligence, and more. Learning how to share and comprehending another’s feelings (empathy) strengthen charitable behavior and promote lifelong wellness. For this uplifting article, begin on page 24.
Always, and especially including this spiritually-reflective month of December, there are unlimited ways to give. Spread joy, love, and light by sustaining one’s own higher frequency, outflowing and uplifting, moment-by-moment, all life, everywhere! In quietude, may we always carry on hopefully! Happiest Holidays, One Family of Humanity (with many Tribes)!
May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth. — Abdu’l- Baha
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What a great time to set new goals. When every thing is being manipulat ed for us to think there is no hope and media creates division for con tent, I know there is a Savior that is Love, provides Peace and lifts up humanity. Every time I breathe, I am reminded of this.
After years of treating very sick people who get healthy, I see well ness starts with choosing to be one congruent self in thought, word, heart, actions, and spirit. They must all be in alignment. Love is required for this. Division destroys society, family, home, health.
The Lord states: “…for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.”
Fruit of The Spirit – Love being the most powerful and important, it is eternal. “Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure what ever comes. Love does not come to an end.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
I felt privileged and grateful for the opportunity God gave me to be able to attend the wedding cer emony of my daughter Ali to her Khalil, in Tulum, Mexico. I experi enced The Glory of God in so many opportunities and the multitude of answered prayers, starting with
1) A God-chosen, loving, kind man with eyes that would see her (Ali), making her invisible to others; 2) I prayed for health as I got the flu the day I was supposed to depart. A cloud of witnesses prayed for me and I was healed; 3) In Tulum, I met the souls that compose their di verse Tribe—different ages, coun tries, races, cultures, languages, career paths, ideals—united by two people who love each other and each one of them uncondition ally—without judgment—full of kindness and compassion. I person ally knew what they expressed in their speeches to the newlyweds as I have felt loved unconditionally by my Ali since she was born.
My daughter Alexandra has been my inspiration to grow, to contribute, to make a difference; she has partnered with me since her childhood to bring love and food to the hungry, and hope to the poor children in ministries through out the world. A smile and a word of encouragement make a differ ence in every life.
To uplift humanity, we must be the change that we want to see by taking action and getting involved in the causes with which our heart resonates, using the pain we have experienced to help others suffer ing. Become a person present to others around you. This is what the Lord Almighty states: “Administer true justice; show mercy and com passion to one another. Do not op press the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner…”
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me;
I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink or help you in any way?’ And the King will answer, ‘Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
This Christ-mas, remember the reason for the season…“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God Is with us.’”
All Love, Dr. Yolie
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Awakenings is a network 16 12 JEFFREY REDIGER on the Science of Miraculous Recoveries 14 GOOD VIBRATIONS The Healing Power of Sound 16 TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD Working Together for Meaningful Change 20 MERRY BRUNCHING Put a Healthier Twist on Favorite Recipes 23 A FEAST OF LIGHT 24 THE BEST GIFT OF ALL Teaching Children the Spirit of Giving 26 SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS Easy Tips for an Eco-Friendly Season 28 HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERING The Gift of Giving DEPARTMENTS 7 local briefs 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 12 wise words 14 healing ways 20 conscious eating 23 inspiration
lead healthier 24 healthy kids 26 green living 28 eco tip 29 calendar 29 classifieds 30 natural awakenings directory
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The world’s been increasingly dramatic lately, for sure; it’s also true that this excruciatingly uncomfortable roller-coaster-ofa-time has great spiritual purpose.
For a long time now, entrenched global systems (including American democracy) haven’t worked well for the health and wellbeing of most people—or the planet. The resulting vast inequities and destruction have inevitably led to today’s trem bling ground. Yet, humanity is destined to grow beyond this. Everywhere there are folks already envisioning and implementing new systems, enshrining greater freedom, fairness, equality, and sustainability. The ensuing growing pains are necessary; without upheaval’s medicine, profound evolutionary growth is impossible.
When the house is rotting, a gut job is needed. As waters churn, this can help one stay centered by:
Limiting what enters the energy field; don’t let fear in/win.
Surrounding one’s self with inspiring people and resources.
Heeding Inner Knowing when making decisions.
Immersing one’s self in gratitude.
Lifting one’s eyes to the larger evolutionary picture.
Keeping in mind that nothing good is birthed sans pain.
Rev. Doc. Lisa provides in-person acupuncture, herbal medicine, Safe Conversations training, wellness coaching, and spiritual counsel ing, in Coral Gables. To learn more, visit IntegralHealer.com or @IntegralHealer on social.
and overcome challenges with fewer delays and less effort. Life unfolds exponentially.
Her numerology consultations are helpful to individuals, cou ples, choosing baby’s name, parental guidance for children and teens, new home address, business team building, career change or professional development. Your Numerology Life Map by Lillie Cintrón, MBA, MN Sessions available in-person or online.
For more information, call 727-365-3161 and/or visit LillieCintron.com. See ad page 31.
Whoare you when you’re alone? Living in alignment with the Hermetic Principles opens the individual to a way of living that is authentic, grounded, and pow erful. By applying these principles, one can become impervious to external forces.
Matthew Koren offers the powerful tools of an ancient Mystery School in the Lineage of King Salomon. Long protected and preserved for those ready to live a Hermetic life, these teachings of the tradi tional magical lineage are now available through the Modern Mystery School. Koren, a guide in the Lineage of King Salomon and certified by the Modern Mystery School, is the founder of Spirit in Transition and Temple Medicine, in Fort Lauderdale. The mission is to bring potency and passion back to clients’ lives so they can work toward a legacy worth sharing.
As one of Florida’s rising conscious community leaders, Koren increases access to ancient Hermetic teachings, empowering those seeking to activate their innate spiritual intelligence, dis cover their unique purpose, and manifest the life and business of their dreams.
Seeing the same numbers or sequences re peatedly has meaning and relates to one’s life purpose. Numerology is a scientificallyproven method that provides an accurate, reliable, and profound understanding of one’s self and what one came here to do.
Master Numerologist and Strategic Advisor Lillie Cintrón has been using this method with her clients for 20-plus years. Just like a map, she uses numerology to assist her clients in under standing the physical, spiritual, and psychological processes that form their life experience, aligning them with their own destiny and the universal law that sustains this life path.
Cintrón interprets the meaning of the numerical patterns on the numerology chart, providing the clarity needed to move forward in life, relationships, career, and business. She provides the best path to fulfill one’s dreams, navigate through transitions,
Cost: 10% discount off Life Activation session; mention Natural Awakenings. For more information on Hermetic Principles, visit SpiritInTransition.com. See ad page 31.
foods with ultra-processed foods in the development of chronic disease and early death. Researchers found that both types of foods increased the risk of an early death, especially from cardiovascular diseases. When research ers compared the two types of food to see which con tributed the most to the risk of an early death, ultra-pro cessed foods were associated with poor health outcomes independently of their low nutritional composition, but not the other way around.
A new study supports the public health importance of staying away from ultra-processed foods, finding a significant asso ciation with colorectal cancer in men The study, led by Tufts University and published in August in The BMJ, looked at the diets of 46,341 men and 159,907 women every four years for 24 to 28 years using food frequency questionnaires. These ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat commercial formula tions comprised of little or no whole foods currently contribute 57 percent of the total daily calories consumed by American adults—a rate which has been continuously rising over the last two decades.
Commonly containing high levels of added sugar, unhealthy fats and refined starch, ultra-processed foods negatively im pact gut microbiota and contribute to increased risks of weight gain and obesity. Most of these convenience foods are low in nutrients and bioactive compounds; contain food additives, colors and emulsifiers; and can be potentially carcinogenic when meats are processed with sodium nitrates and heat treatments or when the packaging leaches its harmful compo nents (like bisphenol A) into the food.
A second recent study in Italy involving 22,895 adults over the age of 35 compared the role of nutrient-poor
The idea that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance specifically, a serotonin deficiency has been popular and influential since the 1960s, leading to the wide use of antide pressants. A recent multiinstitution study led by the University of Reading, in the UK, and published in Molecular Psychiatry has debunked this theory. The researchers did a systematic review of studies on the topic and found no convincing evidence of an asso ciation between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations. The serotonin theory of depression has historically provided convincing justification for the use of antidepressants and may discourage people from discontinuing treatment, potentially leading to lifelong dependence on such drugs.
Getting lost in our thoughts may improve problem solving, increase creativity, enhance imagination and provide a better sense of self-worth. But in the digital age, with im mediate and satisfying input at a finger’s tap, it is possible to be “solitude deprived,” says Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University and author of Digital Minimalism. In a recent study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, psychologists asked a group of more than 250 university students to sit and wait in a quiet room without doing any thing. Researchers found that the students under-appreci ated their enjoyment and engagement of “just thinking” and instead favored technology-driven distractions like internet news-checking. The results suggest an inherent difficulty in accurately assessing how engaging just thinking can be, and may explain why people prefer keeping themselves busy rather than taking a moment for reflection and imagi nation in their daily lives.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has long rec ommended that children between the ages of 6 and 12 years obtain nine to 12 hours of sleep per night for optimal health, yet kids are regularly getting less than this recommended amount.
In a recent study published in The Lancet, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine investigated how insufficient sleep af fects children’s behavioral problems, mental health, cogni tion, brain function and brain structure over a period of two years. They concluded that children that get less than nine hours of sleep per night have notable differences in brain regions that influence memory, intelligence and well-being compared to those that get more than nine hours. As kids’ schedules get busier and they spend more time in front of screens, their average sleep time has decreased. According to the researchers, such insufficiencies in early adolescence can lead to long-lasting neurocognitive consequences.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that aver age global wind speeds could drop by up to 10 percent by 2100. Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, in England, says, “Why do we have wind at all on the planet? It’s because of uneven temperatures; very cold at the poles and warm at the tropics. That tem perature difference drives the winds, and that temperature difference is weakening. The Arctic is warming faster than the tropics.” A slowing in surface winds could disrupt the Gulf Stream, translating to widespread drought and more intense winter storms.
A study published in Nature shows the Arctic has been warming four times faster than the rest of the world since 1979, much faster than scientists estimated. An increase in the number and size of urban buildings that act as a drag on winds is another contrib uting factor. While temperature data goes back thousands of years, climate wind change studies only have 70 years of data to work with. Substantial annual fluctuations make long-term trends difficult to detect, and conclusions leave room for doubt. Yet Gisela Winckler, at the Columbia University Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, writes, “The winds [will be] weaker and stiller.”
With the passage of a recent law, Californians will have a new op tion for the final resting place of those that die beginning in 2027. This makes California the fifth state, along with Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Vermont, to allow human composting, and the most populous. The most common process for human composting, known as natural organic reduction, involves leaving the body in a container with wood chips and other organic matter for about a month to let bacteria do its work, then curing for a few more weeks before being turned over to the family. This process will save about a metric ton of CO2 per body.
Conventional burials expend approximately three gallons of embalming liquid containing toxic levels of formaldehyde, methanol and ethanol. Cremation cre ates more than 500 pounds of carbon dioxide from the burning of just one body, and burning uses up the energy equivalent of two tanks of gasoline.
Assembly member Cristina Garcia, who sponsored the bill, says, “AB-351 will provide an additional option for California residents that is more environmentally friendly and gives them another choice for burial. With climate change and sea level rise as very real threats to our envi ronment, this is an alternative method of final disposition that won’t contribute emissions into our atmosphere.”
At the University of Birmingham in the UK and Bergen, Norway, scientists have shown that atmospheric carbon dioxide pumped into a mature forest at levels predicted to be the norm by 2050 will cause trees to produce more and longer roots, thus absorbing and storing more carbon. Researcher Angeliki Kourmouli says, “We usually take soil for granted, but it forms a crucial part of many ecosystems and plays a significant role in carbon storage.”
The study team gathered thousands of images of tiny tree roots assembled over two years at the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research Free-Air CO2 Enrichment. The images were used to build a mathematical picture of the birth, growth and death of roots in an oak forest. Some images were taken of roots in situ using a highresolution camera sent under the forest floor in a set of transparent tubes, and others came from soil cores. Professor Iain Johnston, who led the study, says, “It’s obviously hard to view these processes going on beneath the ground. But a combination of innovative engineering and careful field and lab work from our team have helped us shed new light on this behavior and on how confident we can be in our findings.”
A legally autonomous black gum tree named Terra0 at the 58th Carnegie International art exhibition on the campus of the Community College of Allegheny County, in Pittsburgh, owns itself and perhaps even the few square feet of land it grows on. As the tree grows, care will be provided by the Carnegie Museum of Art in an attempt to rewrite the rules of conservation on behalf of the entire nonhuman natural world.
Paul Seidler, one of the three artists behind Terra0, says, “We’re interested in how personhood is constructed in legal terms, but also in economic terms. Corporations can gain the status of personhood. We asked why is there nothing like this for ecosystems or natural systems.”
They began working with Sohrab Mohebbi, curator of the exhibition, in 2018 to figure out how to realize the project, who says, “The tree has its own legal counsel, the museum has its legal counsel, our partner who’s giving us the land has legal counsel. It’s kind of amazing.”
The tree was planted in July and Terra0 hopes that as the tree lives on, its legal autonomy will become a touchstone for other nonhuman species to gain their own form of personhood and legal protection.
this context means without cause. Most doctors see inexplicable healings. To assume that there’s no cause for remission is mindboggling. Everything has a cause. We just aren’t asking the right questions.
I broke down recoveries into four pillars of healing and wellbeing that were present in most cases: nutrition, healing the immune system, healing the stress response and healing identity and beliefs.
People who got better when they weren’t supposed to seemed to have a common understanding of nutrition that centered around whole, plant-based foods and the elimination of processed foods and sugar. In Western countries, we’re taught that most people suffer from over-nutrition and obesity, rather that malnutrition. I believe we have massive malnutrition because of processed foods. When sugar crystals coarse through the bloodstream at high levels—as we see in U.S. diets—it causes little cuts which immune cells repair over and over, creating scab upon scab until you end up with atherosclerosis.
Board-certified psychiatrist Jeffrey Rediger is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and medical director of McLean Southeast Adult Psychiatry and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital, near Boston. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. For almost two decades, Rediger has studied spontaneous healing, pioneer ing the use of scientific tools like CT scans and lab tests, as well as personal interviews, to investigate surprising recoveries from incurable diseases. His findings are documented in his bestseller Cured: Strengthen Your Immune System and Heal Your Life, and have been discussed on The Oprah Winfrey Show, a TEDx talk and numerous public engagements.
Science calls these events spontaneous remissions, and doc tors are taught they have no medical or scientific value. On the spiritual side, they’re called miracles. These terms haven’t been examined with the tools of science. The word spontaneous in
We need to honor the science of both Louis Pasteur, who proved that germs exist and play a role in disease, and Claude Bernard, who explained that if we take care of the inner terrain (what we now call the microbiome) we won’t get sick. We’re continually surrounded by millions of pathogens, bacteria, viruses—inside and outside of our bodies—that become invaders when some thing breaks down in our terrain. We overuse medicines, many of which suppress the immune system. So, we need to emphasize the magnificent 30-year research about the microbiome and take care of our bodies to avoid leaky gut and other conditions that act as entrance points for disease.
Most of the people I studied learned to eliminate certain stresses so they could maximize the quality of their remaining time.
This led to healing. We have to widen our window of tolerance for stress so it doesn’t keep us in fight, flight, freeze or fawn, and to differentiate between “challenge stress” and “toxic stress”. Running a marathon can be a challenge stress that helps you reach your higher self, expand your understand ing of what you can achieve and prompt a repair response for muscles. But if every day you’re told you don’t matter or are unappreciated at work, that toxic stress can wear down your understanding of your value.
The deep chasm we’ve created between mind and body doesn’t exist. Doctors are taught to find symptoms, make a diagnosis and start a medication. But whether a pa tient comes in for back pain, a heart attack or an autoimmune flare-up, it’s critical to ask them what has been stressful lately and try to get the story of the illness. Usually, that will prompt a cathartic recount of stresses that relate to what’s going on physically. Helping people understand the deeper story of their illness and find a path to healing around that can be life-saving. Gabor Mate says, “If you don’t know how to say no, your body will eventually say no for you.” Our hospitals are full of people who spent their entire lives taking care of everyone else and being conflict-avoidant. The body keeps the score and tells the story. We can learn to listen to what our bodies are telling us about honoring the dignity and value that we bring into the
world; set up a life and boundaries that support that; and educate therapists and the public about what trauma is and how to recover from it.
This is the big one, which people said was the reason they were grateful for their ill nesses. When people are diagnosed with an incurable illness, although they’re terrified, many (more than you would think) are also relieved. They’ll say, “If I only have six months to live, then I don’t have to take over the family business like dad’s pres suring me to do.” That preparation to die often becomes a doorway into a different life. When you decide to focus on what you need and want, that death of the false self allows the birth of a more authentic self that becomes its own journey to healing.
Spirituality has to do with how we feel about who we are, how we experience our value in the world and what kind of universe we live in. Is the universe friendly and caring or unfriendly and uncaring? If we experience ourselves and others as human beings who have value and bring beauty into the world, that’s very different from feeling alone, defec tive or not good enough. How a person
feels at a deep, conscious or unconscious level about themselves and the universe is a massive factor in terms of their vitality and health.
Take compassionate and firm charge of your minds, bodies and life. Doctors teach patients to be passive recipients of care, but the possibilities of healing come from within. It’s not about taking a medication as much as understanding our value, assertively taking steps to create a community of people who care about us and developing a path towards healing that’s rooted in an understanding of our deeper story.
In Western culture, if someone has a medi cal problem they’re sent to a physician. If they have a psychological problem, they see a psychotherapist. If they have a spiri tual problem, they’re sent to the priest, rabbi or imam. That’s helpful, but we also need to stand back and look at the big picture. The people I studied got better be cause they brought mind, body and spirit together and integrated it into an empow ering meaning that made sense to them. The spiritual piece can’t be partitioned. It animates the whole.
Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.
by Gayatri Bhaumik
Magic Bowls/Unsplash.com
For centuries, humans have employed sound in an attempt to heal and cure. The ancient Greeks believed in the power of music, using flutes, lyres and zithers to treat illness and vibrations to alleviate mental disorders. Even today, military battal ions play music to boost morale.
“Research shows that vibrations are the language of the body,” says Kyle GodfreyRyan, the founder of TUNE, a New York-based tech system designed to recalibrate the nervous system with sounds. “When wxe work with sound, we ’re working with vibrations that can rebalance the nervous system and flood the body with endorphins.”
According to Susy Markoe Schieffelin, a healing practitioner at The Copper Vessel, in Los Angeles, “Sound vi brations work on a cellular level to recalibrate the body. Sound shifts vibrations in the body, both through entrainment—a process by which the vibrations of one object transform to match the higher vibration of another object—and by stimulating electric signals in the brain that support healing frequencies.”
Studies suggest that sound vibrations can unlock energy blockages, release tension and create calm and focus. For this reason, sound healing is frequently prescribed to manage conditions like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some practitioners also report anecdotal metabolic improve ments, from lower blood pressure and decreased cholesterol levels to im proved sleep.
TUNE has worked with the National
Institutes of Health and the Mayo Clinic to gain scientific backing for the brand’ s devices. “Our technology reduces stress by 54 percent in 15 minutes,” GodfreyRyan claims. “It also has a massive impact on the circadian rhythm, so we ’re able to prove better sleep qual ity, improved metabolism and reduced stress and anxiety.”
Sound healing can take many forms, and each type has specific applications. For example, Schieffelin explains, “Gongs and Tibetan bowls are very clearing and grounding, while crystal singing bowls feel more uplifting and elevating.” It is up to the individual to find a style that works for them and their intended results.
Originating in 12th-century Tibet, these metal bowls come in different sizes, each producing a specific sound vibration that is said to work on a particular part of the brain or body. Several-sized bowls often are used together to create a holistic heal ing approach. They can be placed directly on parts of the body to stimulate circula tion and relax muscles. Singing bowls made of pure crystal quartz are popular for their pure sounds, and are believed to offer stress reduction, chakra balancing and mental clarity.
Used in healing since about 4,000 B.C., gong baths, which combine different tones and melodies to fashion multifaceted vibra tions, may positively influence the mind and body by stimulating the vagus nerve. Godfrey-Ryan advises, “Gongs are amazing
for trauma release, but gong work is very heavy, so if you’ve never played with sound before, this will be really intense.”
Numerous cultures—from ancient Egyptians to Tibetan throat singers— have their distinct forms of vocal ton ing. Hindu mantras can be especially powerful for some people because they harness the energy of specific words and intonations. Among practitioners, seven distinct tones have been linked to specific parts of the body. It is believed that these vibrations can balance the body’s cells and open energetic healing, leading to targeted benefits.
While musicians use these devices to en sure that their instruments are set to the correct pitch, they also can be held next to specific parts of the body by individu als seeking healing vibrations, emotional balance and pain relief. “Tuning forks are fun because you can have a very strong somatic reaction within a few seconds—they’re very powerful,” notes Godfrey-Ryan.
Solfeggio frequencies are musical tunes or sound patterns designed to stimu late the brain by syncing brain waves to specific healing frequencies. Each of the seven most popular solfeggio frequencies sets out to target a certain purpose, from improving relationships and awakening intuition to navigating change and let ting go of fear.
Binaural beats are soundscapes that create a gap between different frequen cies. For example, the tune might have a tone of 210 Hertz (Hz) in the left ear and 200 Hz in the right ear, producing an illusory tone of 10 Hz, also known as a binaural beat. Brainwaves are thought to automatically align them selves with this auditory tone, which may be useful for improving focus and reducing stress.
Sound healing is finding a perma nent place in modern wellness culture as more people experience its rewards. While there are myriad ways to use sound vibrations for healing purposes, it is up to each individual to find the style that resonates with them and achieves the improvements they seek. With regu lar practice, they may even find relief that is cumulative and long-lasting.
Gayatri Bhaumik is a professional writer and editor. For more information, visit GayatriBhaumik.com.
With all the chaos occurring in the world today, it is chal lenging to remain centered and not feel overwhelmed. Every shock ing headline seems to pull the proverbial rug out from under us. Thought leader Laureen Golden explains the dilemma this way: “Psychologically, we were raised, educated and socialized in a world that
no longer really exists. We have a new world that we must navigate, and we need a new psychology, a whole new way of being for that world. Reducing, compart mentalizing, separating things in order to understand them no longer works for us. It’s going to take work to get out of this paradigm.”
Drawing from her background in
education and social work, Golden ponders, “How does that new psychology develop when all our institutions charged with cultivating consciousness—schools, families, religious institutions and organizations—are set in the 19th and 20th centuries? Since learning is how we go from one paradigm to another, where do we go to learn the skills and the structures we need to be successful
in such a complex world? We can’t do it individually. We must learn in collectives.”
The paradigm shift envisioned by Golden offers an opportunity for us to access innovative methods of learning, discovery and connection, such as so ciocracy (a self-governance system based on the equality of its members); systems thinking (an approach to complexity that looks at the whole and analyzes relation ships, rather than splitting it into smaller pieces); permaculture (exploring natural ecosystems as a whole); circle methods (thinking things through as a group); and Indigenous wisdom (focusing on the inter connectedness of all things).
All of these methods focus on an ethos of collaboration and teach us how to discern wisdom, which is different than knowledge. By engaging in these conversa tions and explorations, we learn that if we tug on any one part of the web of life, we tug the whole web—an important analogy for our times.
Instead of shouting, “The sky is falling, and the seas are rising,” in response to a world that is unraveling and experienc ing the growing realities of global warm ing, residents of St. Petersburg, Florida, are embracing resilience. To prove that the future is born in webs of human conversation, the city is counting on col lective intelligence to emerge.
Among the tools city participants are employing is The World Café, developed by Juanita Brown and David Isaac, which allows people to host group conversations around thoughtful questions. The concept is designed to evoke deeper listening and give rise to solutions for today’s challenges in a more conscious, intentional and stra tegic way. Forty citizens have taken The World Café facilitation course. Employing a simple and flexible format for hosting large group dialogue, this methodology enables participants to clarify the context, create hospitable space, explore questions that matter, encourage everyone’s con tribution, connect diverse perspectives, listen together for patterns and insights,
and share collective discoveries.
Other important work being applied is that of bestselling author and long time community organizer Margaret Wheatley. Her training, which is designed to cultivate what she calls “Warriors of the Human Spirit,” arouses people’s inherent generosity, creativity, compassion and need for community. Known as a bigsystems thinker throughout her 45-year career, Wheatley has concluded that the only opportunity for change is at the local level. Questions that encourage collective learning became integral to creating cohe siveness in St. Petersburg this year.
Dr. Donella Meadows’ “systems think ing” has helped St. Petersburg participants understand that living systems begin as networks, shift to intentional communi ties of practice and evolve into powerful systems capable of influence. Also instruc tive has been “complexity theory”, which helped participants recognize human systems as organizations, families and communities.
“The city leaders felt conversations were important enough to invest $20,000 to cultivate a culture of conversational leadership in the neighborhoods. Another $25,000 was granted by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to research the outcomes. Now, the Florida Council of Churches, University of South Florida, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and The Connection Partners have received a Community Vibrancy grant of $14,500 to pilot conversations in three neighborhoods, spreading the skills in creating participatory democ racy. Participants will host conversations in their own neighborhoods,” says St. Petersburg resident Sharon Joy Kleitsch, founder of The Connection Partners and a longtime catalyst for applying strate gic actions based on the new sciences of complexity theory, strategic thinking and quantum science.
“Those who have used World Café as a tool know that a culture of conversational leadership offers citizens the opportu nity to experience a sense of oneness and connectedness. We’ve explored what happens when we share feelings of care, compassion and appreciation toward a
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beloved community,” says Kleitsch. “We found that group resonance, profound personal involvement and deeply engross ing, interactive conversation supports a City of Compassion and an International City of Peace, which St. Petersburg was chosen to be. I want to be sure that people understand that we do not have answers. Together, we are exploring pathways and listening for the answers to emerge.”
Since 2020, a thoughtfully selected group of Florida activists—including participants from St. Petersburg—have been holding weekly online Zoom con versations that matter. In 2021, they were joined by participants from Ohio to study
the Capra Course, which is based on The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision by bestselling author Fritjof Capra.
“What we discovered after only two weeks was that we were ourselves a living system connecting to itself and becoming self-organized,” says Kleitsch. “We became aware that we were learning together. We were sharing what we were learning around subjects such as honoring Indigenous peoples, local food systems, the human right to clean water, reimaging capitalism and many more subjects. We’ve also bifurcated into a Sarasota [Florida] cohort. The key is, we were not random. We were a self-selected study group learning collaboratively, which is the best way I rec ommend activists study the Capra Course.”
Argerie Vasilakes, who is researching outcomes, explains that her work is dedicated to helping teams, communities and organizations become more coherent. “I start with traditional ways of thinking about our relationships with nature that native peoples have never forgotten—humans are part of nature, not apart from nature,” she explains. “To me, human organizations, communities, families and governments are also part of nature and examples of natural ecosystems. So, I naturally look at things from a living systems perspective.”
Vasilakes advises, “In a group that is learning together, such as those in the St. Petersburg neighborhoods, group conversations
n TheWorldCafe.com n New Dimensions Radio (NewDimensions.org) n MargaretWheatley.com n DonellaMeadows.com
n A good explanation of complexity theory is at Tinyurl.com/ComplexityTheoryExplained n CapraCourse.net n InternationalFuturesForum.com n SociocracyForAll.org
n Lynn McTaggart’s books, including: Living with Intention: The Science of Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World and The Power of Eight: Harnessing the Miraculous Energies of a Small Group to Heal Others and the World
organized around questions specifi cally crafted for the context and desired purpose of the World Café evoke a deeper kind of listening, the most important factor determining the success of a Café. They spark learning conversations that can produce insights and innovation for meeting the challenges they face. Through practicing shared listening and paying attention to themes, patterns and insights, participants begin to sense a connection to the larger whole.”
According to Wheatley, the important work is to foster critical connections. She believes it is not necessary to convince large numbers of people to change; instead, she suggests we connect with kindred spirits. Through these relationships and tools like The World Café, we can develop the new knowledge, practices and commit ment that lead to broad-based change.
Wheatley sometimes opens her inter views with an ancient Hopi prophecy that reads as if it were applicable to our current times: “Here now is a river flow ing very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid, who will try to hold on to the shore. They are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. The elders say, ‘Let go of the shore, push off and go into the middle of the river. Keep your heads above the water. Know the river has its destination.’ The elders say, ‘See who is in there with you and celebrate.’ At this time in history, we are to take nothing seriously; least of all, ourselves. Gather yourselves. Everything we do now must be done in a spirit of celebration, for we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
Seeing who is in the river of chaos with us, we can choose to respond with, “How can I serve with what I have, where I am?” This is what any Warrior of the Human Spirit would say because in the same river of chaos, there are also the seeds of trans formation. In these turbulent times when all the old boundaries are unravelling and all the old certainties are dissolving, there is a possibility for creative transformation if we work together.
Linda Sechrist is Natural Awakenings’ senior staff writer.
When hosting a holiday brunch, it may be tempting to serve breakfast and lunch classics like quiche, eggs Benedict and huevos rancheros, but many of these dishes can be full of hidden calories, unhealthy fats and too much sodium. With a few easy modifications, healthier versions are possible.
According to Jessica Levinson, a New York registered dietitian and author of 52-Week Meal Planner, it’s important to read nutrition labels, remove empty calories and introduce nutri tious alternatives. As an example, yogurt and granola parfaits may seem innocent, but are often loaded with added sugar. “A serving size of most granolas is only one-quarter of a cup, which isn’t much, so use granola sparingly,” she says, adding that parfaits made with low-fat Greek yogurt and fresh fruit instead of jam are healthier choices.
Traditional quiches are usually made with heavy cream and a buttery pie crust. Levinson recommends a crustless vegetable frittata instead, as it is naturally gluten-free. “If you don’t want to skip the crust altogether, look for a pre-made, whole wheat crust or make your own,” she says. To eliminate dairy, consider using non-dairy milk and omitting cheese in the recipe.
by Sheila Julson losangelai/AdobeStock.comLargeman-Roth, a New York registered dietitian and author of Smoothies & Juices. “It’s better to opt for oatmeal and fruit, with a drizzle of real maple syrup,” she says. Largeman-Roth likes mixing savory and sweet, to add variety and protein to the brunch plate. “Instead of just having a stack of pancakes, split it with your friends or family, and then have a small, veggiefilled omelet. You’ll feel much more satisfied.”
When putting together a menu, Levinson advocates incorporat ing all of the components of a balanced meal: lean protein, car bohydrates from whole grains, fruit and veggies, and low-fat dairy or plant-based substitutes. She says, “If you’re making pan cakes or waffles, use whole grain flour when possible, and serve with a side of yogurt, fresh fruit and real maple syrup.”
For eggs Benedict, Levinson suggests skipping the hollandaise sauce, topping the poached eggs with mashed avocado and using a whole grain bread or English muffin for the base. “Instead of ham, try smoked salmon, which has beneficial omega-3 fatty acids,” she says.
Whole grain oats are a heart-healthy option, but oatmeal served brûlée-style is topped with additional sugar, notes Frances
According to LargemanRoth, egg lovers will enjoy a veggie-packed omelet or frittata with either potatoes or bread on the side, but not both. Watch out for fried foods and use sauces and cream sparingly or find substitutes. If the family is dining out, she cautions that brunch dishes are often served with extra sauces and syrups, add ing sodium and sugar. “Try to ask for them on the side,” she advises. “It’s not about completely avoiding them, but it’s nice to be able to control the amount that you’re adding to your pancakes or waffles.”
Cranberries put a holiday twist on a classic mimosa. Drier champagnes or sparkling wines are lower in sugar. Making cranberry juice from scratch with sweeteners like maple syrup or honey is a natural alternative to com mercial cranberry juice. Prepare the cranberry juice the night before serving.
4 cups homemade (recipe below) or storebought cranberry juice
1 cup orange juice
1 bottle drier champagne, such as Ultra Brut Rosemary sprigs for garnish
Fill four champagne flutes or glassware of choice approximately halfway with cranberry juice. Add 2 Tbsp orange juice to each glass.
Top each glass with champagne. Garnish with sprig of rosemary. Refill as desired.
Recipe courtesy of Sheila Julson.
3 cups fresh cranberries 3 cups water ½ cup pure maple syrup or honey
Put fresh cranberries and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and simmer for approximately 15 minutes until the berries soften and pop.
Using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, strain the berries and return the juice to the pan. (Use leftover cranberries in smoothies, yogurt or relish.)
Gradually add maple syrup or honey until desired sweetness is achieved. Heat on low until sweetener dissolves.
Pour juice into an airtight bottle and refrigerate.
Recipe courtesy of Sheila Julson.
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This healthy dish is a crowd-pleaser any time of year. It’s also gluten-free and can be modified based on whatever veggies are on hand. Omit the feta cheese for a diary-free option.
YIELD: 4 TO 6 SERVINGS
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 Serrano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
1 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1 cup diced green zucchini
1 cup diced yellow summer squash
2 large garlic cloves, minced (1 heaping Tbsp)
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp turmeric
1 tsp sweet paprika
26-28 oz diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp honey
1 tsp cider vinegar
1 cup corn, frozen, fresh or canned
½ tsp kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
4 large eggs
Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional) Za’atar, for garnish (optional)
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet (straightsided skillet is preferable). Add onions; sauté 2 minutes. Add Serrano pepper and bell peppers; sauté 4 minutes. Add zucchini and summer squash; sauté 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, tur meric and paprika; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Reduce heat to medium and add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, honey, cider vinegar and corn; stir in salt and pepper. Simmer for about 10-12 minutes until the sauce has thickened and reduced.
Turn off the heat and press the crumbled feta into the tomato sauce. With the back of a spoon, make 4 indentations in the sauce. Crack eggs one at a time into a small bowl and pour into each of the 4 indentations. Carefully drag a spatula gently through the egg whites, being sure not to disturb the yolks.
Simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, gently stirring the sauce and basting the eggs with the sauce. Cover and cook anoth er 3 to 5 minutes for runny eggs. Cook longer for well-done eggs.
Serve with a sprinkling of parsley and za’atar, if desired.
Recipe courtesy of Jessica Levinson.
Cooked on a sheet pan, these pancakes make cleanup a breeze and can be prepared the night before. Buttermilk and protein powder add satisfying nutrients.
YIELD: 12 SERVINGS
Cooking spray
2 cups buttermilk 2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 Tbsp melted ghee or unsalted butter
⅓ cup maple syrup
1¼ cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup vanilla protein powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp sea salt
FOR THE SWIRL:
½ cup strawberries
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
1 tsp brown sugar
Powdered sugar, for topping
Preheat oven to 425° F. Line an 11-by-17-inch, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray parchment and sides of pan with cooking spray.
Whisk the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, ghee and maple syrup to gether in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients—whole wheat flour and salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry in three additions until just mixed. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
Blend the berry swirl ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Add ½ teaspoon of water if mixture is too stiff. Add small dol lops of the berry mixture to the top of the pancake batter. Drag a wooden toothpick or skewer through the berry mixture to create a swirled pattern.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 11 minutes, until lightly golden. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then sprinkle with pow dered sugar. Cut into 12 squares with a knife. Enjoy warm with maple syrup. Can be stored in the fridge for up to two days.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Frances Largeman-Roth.
Despite the whirlwind of our to-do and places-to-go lists, the wheel of the year turns once more, al lowing us to close another chapter of our lives with grace. If we take a breath, we might notice December’s invitation to kick off our shoes, curl up in our favorite chair and drop down into our heart space.
Whether we light scented candles for am bience, drink cocoa while sitting around a bonfire or continue time-honored spiritual customs, welcoming the light can ignite hope when we need it most. By cultivating the inner sun, that place deep within us that blazes with resilience and plenty, we not only fortify ourselves, but everyone around us. Throughout the year, many of us invest in making healthy choices, but neglect soul sustenance. Swapping trivial distractions for more face-to-face conversations, answer ing someone’s forgotten email or bringing a homemade pot of soup to a neighbor that is busy packing for a move creates a feast of light during all seasons.
“Thousands of candles can be lit from
a single candle,” wrote Gautama Buddha, and perhaps we would be astounded to see how far the smallest gesture can travel. Inviting a friend that has no family to a holiday dinner or out for coffee, spending
Artfoliophoto/GettyImages.com
more quality time with a child or buying a gift card for the receptionist at the dental office begets a chain reaction of small joys. When we fill our bellies with everyday magic, slow down to finish a cup of tea, turn off the news and notice the crescent moon nestled in the twilight, we become more inclined to feel blessed.
A few worthy inspirations to pass along:
n Make it a spiritual offering to choose joy today
n Close the year by letting go of a griev ance or an outdated belief
n Tell someone how they bring light into your life
n Share a favorite book that is inspiring n Acquire a new source of light—a lan tern or salt lamp—for your favorite room n Leave an uplifting quote on a loved one’s voicemail
Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Teaching children the value of generosity and kindness is not just good for the world, it is good for our kids, too. Studies have shown that acts of altruism can boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, increase self-esteem, reduce depression and lower stress levels. Selfless contributions also can foster a sense of belonging, whether they are donating material things, sharing their time or freely con veying love and kindness. A magnanimous child is repaid with benefits that nourish the body and soul.
To transform children into givers, they need to learn how to share and compre hend other people’s feelings. Known as cognitive empathy, it involves under standing another person’s emotions on an intellectual level, taking into consideration
their situation and anticipating how they might react.
Since the 1990s, scientists have been re searching mirror neurons which respond to actions that we observe in the same way as when we actually perform those actions ourselves. These neurons play a consider able role in the development of speech, language, learning, emotional intelligence, empathy and understanding, so children need to see and receive acts of giving and love to become givers themselves.
With mental health conditions in chil dren on the rise, charitable behavior can improve their mental well-being and help them secrete “feel-good” chemicals in the brain like oxytocin, dopamine and sero tonin. “I think helping our kids experience the happiness that comes from giving to others is probably one of the most valuable ways we can nurture generosity in them,” says Lara Aknin, an assistant professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University, in Canada. “It sets off this positive cycle. Giving makes people happy and happiness promotes giving.”
Functional MRIs of people that donate to charities have shown that the act of giving stimulates reward centers of the brain where endorphins are released. These hormones lower cortisol, improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve digestion, clear out toxins, help the immune system fight infections and renew energy to repair cells and fight cancer. Other benefits include lower inflammation overall, improved sleep, decreased feelings of restlessness and reductions in chronic pain.
In a 2020 study reported in JAMA Network, researchers found that young adults
ages 19 to 20 that perceived higher levels of social support—the feeling that there is someone they can depend on for help should they need it—were less likely to report depressive and anxiety symptoms or suicidal ideation one year later. The study also found that even in cases where people previously experienced mental health problems, social support was beneficial for mental health later on.
Love and secure attachments, such as those experienced through acts of giv ing, strengthen the body; help regulate emotions, attention and behavior; mitigate the effects of stress; and promote lifelong, healthy development.
vejaa/AdobeStock.com
Volunteering makes an immeasur able difference in the lives of others and creates a sense of purpose in the person doing it. Science has shown that engaging in volunteer work can decrease depression, reduce stress, increase lon gevity and help the person stay mentally and physically active. Volunteers get to meet others, develop new relationships and strengthen existing relationships with those that have similar goals and interests. There are many opportunities for children and parents to volunteer through school, religious and nonprofit organizations
Random acts of kindness and gener osity include smiling, holding the door open for someone and reach ing out to loved ones. Include a child in these activities and encour age them to do the same. “When you see your children being generous, point it out and praise them,” recommends The Center for Parenting Education. “Help them put into words the positive feelings they may have as they help others.”
The most important ingredient to develop a child with a healthy brain and body is love. Children need positive experiences for pathways in their brain and body to work. Developing empathy for themselves and others increases emotional strength and self-regulation. Improve the life of a child— physically, emotionally and spiritually—by teaching them the simple of act of giving.
Madiha Saeed, M.D., ABIHM, is the bestselling author of The Holistic RX, an international speaker, founder of HolisticMomMD.com and director of edu cation for KnoWEwell.com.
To transform children into givers, they need to learn how to share and comprehend other people’s feelings.
The holidays are upon us, and that means decking the halls, gathering with loved ones, exchanging gifts and treats—and creating a lot of waste in the process. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than at any other time of year. That’s 1 million extra tons each week, primarily due to waste from holiday gifts and décor. Fortunately, there are ways to cut down on consump tion to lessen the environmental impact of the holiday season without sacrificing any joy.
Ditch grocery store lines and instead shop for the holiday meal at a nearby family farm. By participating in the local food movement, we will not only enjoy fresh, seasonal ingre dients while supporting the local economy, but also sustain farms that build soil health, promote animal well-being and offer a more delicious and nutritionally superior final product. Purchasing food directly from farmers also eliminates the extra packaging and the carbon footprint of transportation that comes with store-bought goods.
In addition to offering fruits and vegeta bles for holiday pies and soufflés, regional farms can also be good sources for locally sourced grains, holiday meats, baked goods and cheeses. Festive cocktails can be purchased from a neighborhood distillery, brewery or winery, many of which source their ingredients from local farmers.
Ronald Mirante, founder of BoneIn Food, runs a weekly food delivery service that provides only sustainable, nutrient-dense foods sourced from local farm partners. According to Mirante, “Shopping for food locally with your
farmers for the holiday helps them move offerings they have raised all season long. This empowers the local food com munity and makes their operations sustainable by preventing food waste and allowing for economic preparation for next year’s harvest.”
For a state-by-state directory of local farmers of meat, eggs and dairy products from 100 percent pastured animals, visit EatWild.com. A directory of family farms and farmers markets, along with restaurants and grocery stores that feature locally produced food, can be found at LocalHarvest.org.
Instead of using unrecyclable gift wrapping paper, switch to a recycled alternative or wrap gifts in pieces of fabric, newsprint or kraft paper that can be repurposed or recycled. To eliminate shopping and wrapping altogether, give the gift of an experi ence, which allows loved ones to create lasting memories.
Cater experiential gifts to the needs and wants of the recipi ent. An exhausted new parent will appreciate a restaurant gift certificate or a coupon to pay for a babysitter. Give the bud ding golfer lessons with a local pro, the theater lover tickets to an upcoming show and the selfless caregiver a spa treatment to help them feel pampered and refreshed. For the person that seems to have everything, make a donation in their name to a worthy cause that matters deeply to them.
According to publishing executive and mother Tacy Quinn, who runs the Instagram account @friluftslivingfamily, “As our kids get older, we love to find outdoor adventure ideas that are fun to do as a family and get us off our screens. One of our holiday gift-giving traditions each year is to purchase or renew a membership to a local nature organization. Many or ganizations have great family programs that are included with yearly memberships, so this annual gift means we get a whole year of outdoor experiences to enjoy together. We’ve gone on full-moon hikes, tapped and harvested our own maple syrup, enjoyed solstice bonfire parties and more. Giving a member ship gift helps everyone enjoy the outdoors and sustain the natural places we love.”
When it’s not possible to gift an experience, shop locally for
gifts made of natural materials, such as a beautiful, wooden, cutting board, a cozy pair of wool socks or a piece of pottery handmade by local artisans. Christmas stockings can create unnecessary waste for the sake of filling them to the brim. Try replacing plastic odds and ends with fruits, nuts or handmade treats like cookies or granola for more sustainable—and tastier— stocking stuffers.
For the most sustainable holiday tree, opt for a potted or locally cut, native choice. Live trees protect the soil, serve as wildlife habitats and filter the air during the six to eight years they’re growing. They also create local jobs. After the holidays are over, the potted trees can be planted. Cut live trees should either be mulched or recycled, rather than thrown in a landfill.
Making just a few simple swaps in gifting, feasting and decorat ing will ease holiday consumption and lessen its environmental impacts without subtracting any of the joy.
Kirby Baldwin writes for KnoWEwell, the regenerative whole health hub and a collaborative partner of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp.
As we indulge in magnificent feasts and open gifts in cozy living rooms, let’s pause to express gratitude for all that we have and look for ways to help those less fortunate. The holiday season is the time for giving. One of the best ways to get into the spirit is by volunteering time and treasure to meaningful causes and underprivileged individuals. Here are a few ideas.
Find a nearby impoverished fam ily that could use a houseful of gifts, including toys, blankets and warm clothes, then do a little shopping and make their holiday dreams come true. Local social service agencies can help identify the lucky family.
Spend an afternoon making holiday greeting cards to warm the hearts of lonely seniors, U.S. armed service members and children in hospitals battling serious illnesses. This is a great activity to do with kids—teach ing them important lessons about kindness and generosity. For cardmaking ideas and distribution help: RedCross.org, LoveForOurElders.org, CardsForHospitalizedKids.com and ColorASmile.org
Nothing is sadder than a child without at least one holiday gift. Fortunately, several organizations and thousands of generous people do their very best to fill those empty little hands with merriment. Here are a few places that
need donations of time, money and gifts: ToysForTots.org, Samaritans Purse.org, SalvationArmyUSA.org and OperationHelpAHero.org
Some kids could really use the cozy warmth and comfort of their very own security binky. Here are two organi zations that provide blanket-making ideas and instructions, and also help facilitate their collection and distribu tion: ProjectLinus.org and BinkyPatrol. org. This is a wonderful group project for families or classrooms.
Food insecurity is a serious problem in this country, and lowincome families that rely on government assistance and food banks for everyday nutrition will likely not have the wherewithal for a holiday feast. Here’s where our help comes in. The following organizations either serve free holiday meals or give away food baskets: local churches, temples and mosques; MealsOnWheels America.org; neighbor hood food pantries and soup kitchens; and SalvationArmyUSA.org
Here are a few charities that accept monetary donations and sweat equity to aid children battling serious diseas es or troubled family situations: StJude. org, OneSimpleWish.org, Wish.org and Prison Fellowship.org
These organizations accept dona tions of money and time: the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (aspca. org); National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org); Best Friends Animal Society (BestFriends. org); Friends of Animals (FriendsOfAnimals. org); Animal Welfare Institute (awionline. org); Alley Cat Allies (AlleyCat.org); Jane Goodall Institute (JaneGoodall. org); and The Humane Society of the United States (Humane Society.org).
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ADORABLE BUNNIES FOR ADOPTION – 8 weeks, Mostly white with black. Box trained. Pics; 954-9802510, manny.lamancha@gmail.com
Flower Picnic in the Park — 10:30amNoon $111.(also available Monday through Thursdays) Experience the joy of a purpose ful picnic! Create a fresh flower crown, delight in the beauty of flowers and dine brunch alfresco. Register early, space is lim ited. TY Park, 3300 N Park Rd, Hollywood, FL. Email Jowana at houseofpetali@gmail. com for details.
IANDS South Florida - International Association for Near Death Studies 1st Sunday monthly, 3-5pm Meeting - Discussions include Spiritually Trans formative Experiences. All interested in the studies are welcomed. Locations will vary, call for details. Reverend Gail Fein, 305-798-8974.
Group Hypnosis Class — 7pm Last Wednesday each month for only $20. Let yourself be transported into ease with this amazing Group Hypnosis Class led by Les lie Seckelman, CHT. HarmonyResounds. com. 541-301-9685.
Ensofic Reiki Group Healing— 7–9pm, $35, Ensofic Reiki — highest and most powerful ray of energy to help reduce anxiety and stress, relieve tension or chronic pain, ease depression, and deepen your self-awareness. Spirit in Transition at Temple Medicine, 954-406-8199 / Calendar.SpiritInTransition.com
Deep Relaxation Guided Meditation 9pm. (Virtual) $15. At the Modern Mystery School we have profound and effective methods to achieve peace and relaxation, and to harness the power of the mind. Spiritual Guide, Lilith Reese shares the benefits of Meditation. Register to receive the Zoom Link: https://templemedicine. as.me/Upcoming-Classes-With-LilithReese, LilithReese.com.
Paddle With A Purpose, Waterway and Shoreline Cleanup 9–11am, help re move trash and make new friends (third Saturday each month). Kayaks and canoes available on a first come, first serve basis; bringing your own is encouraged. Loca tion varies. Information, Robert Figueroa, 917-652-1050.
Holistic Healing, Wellness & Psychic Fair
Last Saturday Monthly on Zoom. 1–10pm est. 15 Global Speakers, Lectures, Door Prizes, Fun Experiences. By Love Donation. Call for info: 786-419-1389. SheriKaplan.com/healersnetworkvirtualfair.
Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. Order online: NAbroward. com/pages/directory
COAST TO COAST CHIROPRACTIC HEALTHCARE
716 NE 2nd Ave, Ft Lauderdale, 33304 954-300-2065
Coast2CoastChiropractic.com
We’re committed to providing the highest-quality chiropractic care possible in order to improve the lives of our members and change society’s current sick care paradigm. See ad page 7.
TOTAL BALANCE 4 U
TJ Robinson 954-234-3299, Fort Lauderdale TotalBalance4U.com
Feel good again! Restore your vitality and vibrant health! Release stress and “stuck” areas in your body that cause chronic pain. Your safety is priority – COVID compliant. MA24266, MM30072.
THERMAE STILLNESS RETREAT
604 S. Federal Hwy. Fort Lauderdale FL 33301 954-604-7930
ThermaeRetreat@gmail.com ThermaeRetreat.com
FB: @ThermaeRetreat IG: Thermae.FtLauderdale
Thermae reTreaT
An organic serene daily retreat to prevent or heal. Infrared saunas, massage, skincare, body scrubs and masques, holistic healing, energy therapy. Yoga, meditation, hydrotherapy.
ADVANCED DENTAL WELLNESS CENTER
Boris Lipovetskiy, DMD
104 SE 1st St., Fort Lauderdale FL 33301 954-525-5662 ADWCenter.com
Dr. Lipovetskiy specializes in natural, biological, and cosmetic dentistry offering latest in technology in our relaxing environment. We provide mercury safe dentistry, metal-free braces, and biocompatible metal-free zirconia implants. He specializes in TMJ and sleep apnea.
Yolanda Cintron, DMD
2021 E Commercial Blvd., Ste. 208 Fort Lauderdale FL 33308 855-381-6001 954-945-7355 (new patients)
GoNaturalDentistry.com
All phases of dentistry for optimum health, holistic, biocompatible dentistry.
• Sedation dentistry • Removing of toxic metals • Replacing them with bio-compatible materials
• Laser dentistry for painless surgeries & extractions • Zirconia/ ceramic implants • Natural bone augmentation / Plasma Rich Growth Factor • Oral DNA Testing • Add gums to receding gums. See ad page 5.
Aurel Chebanu, DMD, PhD
333 NW 70th Ave., Ste. 207
Plantation FL 33317 954-792-6266
Chebanudmd@comcast.net
Dr. Chebanu recognizes the importance of natural therapies and health solutions. His office specializes in Biocompatible and Holistic Dentistry, Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry, Ceramic Dental Implants, Oral Surgery, and TMJ Disorders. See ad page 23.
Dr. Yani, DMD
212 SE 12th St (Davie Blvd) Fort Lauderdale FL 33316 954-525-6010
info@Yanidmd.com Yanidmd.com
We follow strict amalgam removal protocols incorporating nutritional supplements for safe mercury detoxification ~ IAOMT member.
To promote better healing, our hygiene care incorporates ozone and essential oils for gum treatments. Only mercury-free biocompatible crowns and dental materials used. Free holistic toothpaste recipe. See ad page 13.
ECO AIR DUCT CLEANING
305-952-0444
Admin@EcoAir-DuctCleaning.com EcoAir-DuctCleaning.com
We are a health-conscious, environmentally friendly, company focused on reducing the negative impact of hard toxins in our environment, for better health, and well-being. See ad page 8.
ATLANTIC INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE (ATOM)
100 E Broward Blvd., Ste. 100 Fort Lauderdale FL 33301 954-763-9840
ATOM.edu
ATOM offers a Master’s degree and a Doctoral degree in Oriental Medicine. ATOM has an Intern Clinic that is open to the public. See ad back page.
MARANDO FARMS & RANCH
5151 SW 64th Ave., Davie FL 33314 954-945-2331
MarandoRanch.com
Come visit our farm friends and treat yourself with amazing goods. Enjoy our Farm-To-Table Cafe. Private party availability. Weekend petting zoo & pony rides.
HAIR HOLISTIC ECO-FRIENDLY STUDIO
Ibana Villasenor 141 NW 20th St., Ste. B7 Boca Raton FL 33431 561-372-5354
HairHolistic@gmail.com HairHolistic.com
Hair services & products with a truly holistic approach like scalphair detox, and jet rejuvenation. Hair coloring with Henna or ecofriendly dyes, and formaldehydefree keratine.
LILITH REESE - LEAD DESIGNER 954-591-8170
GlassRootsEnergetics@gmail.com LilithReese.com
Desiring more clarity and peaceful ambiance in your home?
Decluttering/Realigning your Interior Decor will achieve this.
Call me for support and a complimentary consultation.
EXCEPTIONAL HYPNOTHERAPY
Leslie Seckelman, Certified Hypnotist 541-301-9685 HarmonyResounds.com
‘Tis the season of giving back, December only Hypnotherapy by Donation.
Enjoy this Holiday gift now!
SPIRIT IN TRANSITION
Matthew Koren 954-406-8199, Oakland Park
Activate.SpiritInTransition.com
Engage with powerful tools of an ancient Mystery School—the Lineage of King Salomon. These teachings support your conscious evolution into a perfected Light being, to become aware of our mission to serve worldwide. Join us for advanced spiritual training in meditation, alchemy, kabbalah, sacred geometry, astral travel, and more! See ad page 7.
MASTER NUMEROLOGIST
Lillie Cintron, MBA, MN 727-365-3161, Fort Lauderdale LillieCintron.com
Numerology advisory services for individuals, couples, children, teens & corporate team building. Know your true self and move forward in life, relationships, career, and business.
Rita Zachelmayer RH Reiki Master Shaman
370 Camino Gardens Blvd., Suite 112 Boca Raton, FL 33432 561-573-7569
RitaZachelmayer@icloud.com TheSeedingReiki.com
Reiki is a technique that brings relaxation, stress reduction, and harmony. It’s a chance to take a break and to be kind to yourself. Our pets love reiki too!
CATHERINE EDELSON MA, CH, CDS 954-745-0735
C@TheHypnosisFix.com TheHypnosisFix.com
Giving you tools you can use when you most need it. Access the best toolkit nature gave you with Hypnosis! Your first Hypnozoom session — 50% off.
Hypnotists believe everything is hypnosis. We offer powerful, ecological, and practical solutions to each client.
Certified Hypnotist, ADHD Coaching, EFT practitioner, Certified Divorce Specialist.
See ad page 15 and 17.
